Missouri Air Guard Unit Announces New Commander

Lt. Col. William Boothman, of Waterloo, IL, took command of the Missouri Air National Guard’s 121st Air Control Squadron in a ceremony performed by Jefferson Barracks Base Commander Col. David Newman on Oct. 1.

“Bill Boothman is the right man for this job,” said Gen. Stephen Cotter in a release from the Guard. “He has the right foundation and background to lead this unit.”

Boothman attended Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville and earned a degree in civil engineering. He served four years in the Air Force before joining the National Guard. Boothman started his National Guard career at Jefferson Barracks 20 years ago and has served as the base civil engineer and conversion officer.

The 121st Air Control Squadron, based out of Jefferson Barracks, consists of 185 soldiers who are in the process of setting up a .

“This is a very technical military occupation,” Boothman said. “We train to perform long range aircraft radar command and control. We give aircrafts in the air all the information that is beyond their capabilities and feed that information back through data links or to people around the globe if necessary.”

Boothman brings with him the return of air control missions to the barracks, and said it will increase the viability of the base as a military asset.

“Everyone knows the country is in some difficult fiscal times right now, so any mission you have that pertains to current operations and combat activity is important to the state,” Cotter said. “We’re trying to maintain corps structure here so the more viable missions you have, the better chance you have to stay off the chopping block.”